Licorice root is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs worldwide and is the single most used herb in Chinese medicine today. It was used by the Egyptians as a flavoring for a drink called Mai-sus, and large quantities were found in the tomb of King Tut for his trip into the afterlife. Pliny the Elder recommended it to clear the voice and alleviate thirst and hunger. Dioscides, when traveling with Alexander the Great, recommended that his troops carry and use licorice to help with stamina for long marches, as well as for thirst in areas of drought. In the Middle Ages it was taken to alleviate the negative effects of highly spicy or overcooked food. It was also used for flavoring tobacco, and as a foaming agent in fire extinguishers and beer. In a recent survey of Western medical herbalists, licorice ranked as the 10th most important herb used in clinical practice. An astonishing number of Chinese herbal formulas (over 5,000) use licorice to sweeten teas and to "harmonize" contrasting herbs. Its first documented use dates back to the time of the great Chinese herbal master Zhang Zhong Zhing, about 190 AD, but it was certainly used for many centuries prior to this. In 1914 the Chicago Licorice Company began to sell Black Vines, the first in a very long line of licorice based modern candies.

Parangi Pattai’s powder prepared into a concoction treats rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. It is a natural non steroid medicine that relieves the pain and swelling caused by arthritis. Parangi Chakkai preparation heals skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema and reduces blood sugar level of diabetic patients. A bathing powder made with Parangi Pattai powder is ideal for psoriasis and eczema patients. Parangi Chakkai acts as an aphrodisiac for men and women. it is a natural remedy for hemorrhoids, excessive menstrual bleeding and venereal diseases.

Benefits & Uses

Wild Yam has anti-spasmodic as well as anti-inflammatory properties and therefore aids and sooths with numerous afflictions. Such as, muscular spasms and all types of cramping, labor pains, arthritis, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, gall bladder, flatulence and gastric ailments, menopause symptoms and menstruation pains and bloating. These ailments are usually treated with infusions prepared from boiling the dehydrated roots that have been harvested in the autumn or by including the root extract in ointments, creams and capsules. In the laboratory Wild Yam can be chemically converted to progesterone contraceptives and cortisone. Wild Yam is not a form a hormone replacement nor a reliable birth control, though rumor believes it to be.

Dosage

Side Effects

There are no known side effects with this herb. Seek medical advice for its use during pregnancy.